Brianna Finch has been appointed as the new head coach of the UMass Lowell women’s basketball program, according to an announcement by Director of Athletics Lynn Coutts on Apr. 3. Finch becomes the 11th person to lead the team and brings over two decades of collegiate and professional coaching experience.
The hiring marks a significant step for UMass Lowell as it seeks to strengthen its women’s basketball program. The decision comes after a search process that highlighted Finch’s commitment to building a strong culture focused on values and growth.
“I am thrilled to announce Brianna Finch as the next head women’s basketball coach at UMass Lowell,” Coutts said. “She stood out throughout this whole process as a passionate leader who is deeply committed to building a strong, values-driven culture where student-athletes truly love the game of basketball. Brianna emphasizes accountability to oneself and to one’s teammates, while fostering a growth mindset and a pursuit of excellence both on and off the court. Her vision aligns perfectly with our department and will be instrumental in attracting and developing talent as we look to elevate our program here at UMass Lowell.”
Finch most recently served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at George Washington University, where she contributed during the 2025-26 season in achieving several milestones for the program, including its first Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) victory since 2017, most postseason wins in nearly three decades, and improvement across multiple statistical categories such as scoring, field goal percentage, and assists. She also mentored Gabby Reynolds, who was selected for Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team honors.
“I am honored and excited to be named the next head women’s basketball coach at UMass Lowell,” Finch said. “I want to thank Athletic Director Lynn Coutts and Associate Athletic Director Zach Leach for the opportunity to join this amazing community. I believe Lowell is a special place with genuine and dedicated people, elite academics and competitive athletics to nurture a holistic student-athlete experience. I will work tirelessly to create a culture of excellence in everything we do. I cannot wait to get started. Go River Hawks!”
Before her time at George Washington University, Finch worked with Boston University’s women’s basketball team from 2021-25—serving her last two years there as associate head coach—and helped guide them through consecutive seasons with more than twenty wins each year along with their first Patriot League Regular-Season Championship in school history during 2022-23.
Finch has also held leadership roles elsewhere: interim head coach at Florida International University after the 2019-20 season; head coach at New Mexico Highlands from 2014-16; professional club experience leading Lemvig Basketball Club in Denmark; plus coaching stints at Davidson College, Barry University (where she aided one of NCAA Division II’s largest turnarounds), UC Irvine, and UC San Diego.
Her recognition within college coaching includes selection for the upcoming WBCA Next Gen Institute in 2026 along with being named one of Silver Waves Media’s “50 Most Impactful Assistant Coaches” in 2024.
Finch holds degrees from Sonoma State University (bachelor’s) and New Mexico Highlands (master’s). The appointment signals new direction for River Hawks women’s basketball under her leadership.
